Toronto’s poet laureate, George Elliott Clarke, is off to Harvard University.

Clarke, a poet, dramatist, novelist and professor, will teach two courses based on African-Canadian literature and international Black poetry starting later this month.

He will also chair the university’s Canada Seminar, a series of presentations and discussions with public figures, scholars, artists and experts in various fields.

The appointment lasts one year.

Clarke, who has previously taught at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina and McGill University in Montreal before joining the University of Toronto as the E.J. Pratt Professor of Canadian Literature, was appointed the city’s fourth poet laureate in Nov. 2012 for a three-year term.

In addition to the many awards and accolades Clarke has received, his dedication to education and support of Canadian writers and the literary community has been nationally recognized by his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Of African-Canadian and Mi’kmak heritage, Clarke worked as a newspaper editor, a social worker and a legislative researcher before embarking on dual literary and academic careers. His most recent collection of poetry was Illicit Sonnets (Eyewear Publishing).

Clarke will continue as Toronto’s poet laureate for the rest of his term, returning to the city on a regular basis to keep up with his official commitments.

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